Tinta Amarela
Dry land bush vines planted in 1999, organically farmed, no shoot thinning is done, rather leaves are left to provide shade which I find brings more elegance to the wine. Cover cropping with legumous nitrogen fixing plants is done every year. There are only 300 vines so it is tough to manage this on such a small scale but we try our best to fill a barrel every year.
Hand-harvested, 100% whole bunch fermented for 15 days in open tank, where it was then pressed and aged in one 500L French barrel. No yeast added, ambient fermentation. Unfined, light clarifying filtration. SO2 added after racking in August and then none at bottling. The wine has a great definition to it at that sets apart from our other wines, and we think this comes from the stem tannin that lifts it and the fruit profile with it. “Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1999 on granite. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Exotic aromatics of red and black berries, wilted rose, spice and earth. Good fruit depth and moderate acidity before a dry finish – neither too luscious nor astringent.” 92 Points – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
